Lubricating device



C.' W. WYMAN..

LUBRICATING DEVICE.- APPLICATION FILED DECJ. I9Is.

am 2 15 z3 33 53 11 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WYMAN, OF CLAREMON'I, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LUBRICATING DEVICE.

Application filed December 7, 1916.

T all 'tc/tom t may concern:

Be it known that i, CHARLES lV. VYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county ot' Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useit'ul improvements in Lubricating Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and vexact specification.

My invention relates to lubricating devices.

It has for its object to provide an im*-y prove-d lubricator adapted to use in connection with compressors, steam engines, or the like, whereby a movement ot a part of the machine, as for instance a piston, is caused to pump lubricant from a suitable source ci supply to the machine. A more specilic object oi' my invention is to provide an improved lubricator especially adapted to use in compressors, steam engines, or the like, wherein the pressures during opposite strokes of the piston are utilized as a pumping agent acting upon a suitable source of lubricant supply to cause tnis lubricant to be supplied to the machine. A stil and more specific object otl my inv to provide improved means whereby a predetermined amount ot lubricant is separated from the main reservoir and maintainc d constantly available for distribution to the parte .to be lubricated during the operation of the device, and wherein when the machine is shut down this supply orp lubricant only is allowed to pass to thel parts to. be lubricated. These and other objectsot1 my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have, for purposes ot illustration, shown several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the same as applied to a compressor, although it should be understood that the invention yis not limited to use in that connection.

In these drawings,-

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of the compressor' equipped with my invention, cer- Y tain portions o the cylinder being broken away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 ot Fig. 1 with my lubricator shown inV elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lubricator per se.r

Specication of Letters Patent.

further Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Serial No. 135,627.

Fig. d is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar vertical sectional view showing a modified form of lubricator.

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing a still further modified form of lubricator.

Fig. 'T is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of diaphragm operating mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a further modified form oi' the same mechanism.

ln the iirst illustrative construction shown in Figs. l to l inclusive, I have shown a compressor l, which may be of any desired construction, provided with a cylinder 2 in which moves the usual piston 3, the latter acting to draw in air through suitable inlet valves a', only one of which is shown, from a suitable air inlet 5, and deliver the same through suitable discharge valves 6, only one of which is shown, to a suitable discharge line As in the usual construction, the piston as it moves in one direction, compresses the charge in one end of the cylinder at the same time that it vdraws air into opposite end of the cylinder, this process being re .crsed when the piston moves in the opposite direction.

in my improved construction, l utilize the varying pressures 'thus developed in the cylinder by the movement of the piston, to pump lubricant to the-parts to be lubricated. in Fig. 2 is shown one form of my lubiicator in which a pipe 8 is connected to the cylinder at a point where the pressures therein are relatively low. As shown, this pipe is extended into a suitable passage 9 located at substantially the center line of the cylinder and plugged at one end at l0 and communiating through its opposite end with the cylinder. Upon the opposite end of this pipe 8 is carried the lubricator, in which it will be noted that a diaphragm 11 of any suitable ferm is carried on the bottom plate 12 and preferably between the latter and an upper reservoir casing 13, the diaphragm being held in position preferably by the same bolts li'which clamp together the bottom plate 12 'and casing 13 of the lubricator. rlhis diaphragm is disposed directly across the path of the pressure which, as the piston moves back and forth, is transmitted through the pipe 8, and thus this diaphragm is directly responsive to the variations in phragm and the closure lof the valve 17V pressure in the cylinder. Above this diaphragm 11 and inthe casing 13, is formed a suitable lubricant reservoir 15 communi- V'reservoir 15 will successively pass down from the reservoir through the open valve 17 onto the top of the diaphragm as the latter moves to its down position, and be placed under pressure by the movement of the. diawhen the diaphragm is again raised by an increase of pressure within the compressor cylinder.V Thus, a pumping action of the lubricant is made possible, and I avail of this action to pump the lubricant to a suitable supplemental reservoir.V As shown, l provide an outl t 19 over the diaphragm, and a plurality of check valves preferably in the formY of balls 20, 21 disposed in suit able seats formed in the mouths of preferably successively enlarged passages 22 and 23 which communicate with the passage 19. In passage 23 l place as suitable member 2e for limiting the movement of the balls constituting the check valves. Of these passages 22, 23, it will be noted that the passage 23 extends substantially to the top of the casing 13 and is there provided with a laterally extending enlarged or widened por-v tion in the form of a supplemental reservoir preferably comprisingV a shallow dish 25 having an opening or V-shaped notch 26 in one of its edges adapted to permit anything more than a predetermined level of lubricant to Vflow back into the reservoir 15, preferably at a speed"proportionate to its volume. As shown, a Vvertically disposed'passage 27, controlled by an adjustablencedle valve 28, communicates with the lubricant A in this supplemental reservoir 25, and conducts lubricant vdown through asuitable funnel-shaped, drop forming inouthpiece 29 into a. s ight glass o r tube 30. As shown, this VV`glass 30 preferably has inV its lower end Va vcheck valve, herein shown in the form of .a ball 31 seated in a ball carrying ring 32 of usual construction, and disposed over a correspondingly smaller opening 33 in the diaphragmV 11 in such a manner as'to permit theY flow of lubricant from the reservoir 25 to the pipe 8 and preventvthe pressure in( that pipe from passing upward into the glass 30. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the opening 33 through the diaphragm is sooflset from directly belowthe center of theV seat'in the ball ring that the ball 31cann0t, when resting on thediaphragm, prevent the `flow of lubricant through the opening 33. It will be obvious from the drawings that the ball 31 is fluid operated only, the portion of the diaphragm 'through which opening 33 passesY being held rigid and also sealing'the'opening 33 against the ilow of oil except from the reservoir 25. 0bviously,the reservoir 15 may be filled by any suitable means, as through a suitable removable cover 34, and the needle valve 23 may be adjusted by any suitable means ad justable from the exterior of the casing 13.

In theoperation of the device described, it will, of course, be evident that as the piston alternately reduces and builds up the pressure beneath the diaphragm 11, the latter will be alternately sucked down from its normal horizontal position in such a manner as to suck in oil from the main reservoir 15, and pushed up in such a manner as to ejectk that oil in slugs up through the valves 2O and 21, and up into the supplemental reservoir 25, the varying pressures in the cylinder thus actingl as a pump tending to supply to that reservoir a constant flow of lubricant so long, and so long only, as the piston moves. bviously, through the provision of the notch 26 Yand the valves 20, 21, a constant level will also be maintained in that reservoir, and only the supply in that reservoir will pass to the cylinder when the machine is .shut down. Through the adjustment of the needle valve 28, the flow Vof lubricant from the reservoir 25 to the Vpipe 8 may also be regulated as desired, the flow being visible through the sight glass 30, so that the operator can regulate it as desired. Attention is also directed to the fact that by utilizing the pipe 3 disposedr at the outer end of the cylinder as Yboth a pressure and lubricant pipe, iet only is the. pressure relatively low, but thelubricant is returned tothe cylinder at a point well adapted for efcient lubrication of the parts'. lt will also benotcd that through the prrvision .of the check valve 3l, not only the air entering through the pipe 3 prevented from blowing apart tne. drops of oil they enter the sight glass and thus prwenting the operator from determining whether or not the desired lubricant flow is maintained, but that this valve 3l also arts to prevent the pressure in tl e pipe 3 which acts upon the under side of the diaphragm 11, from impeding the free flow of the oil through the sight glt ss to the pipe 8, the valve 31 closing when the pressure is high and opening when theV pressure falls, so that during these last mentionet inte vals the oil will flow freely to the pipe 3 and be delivered by it vto the piston at a point midway of the stroke of the latter,

ln the Vform of my invention shown in Figf, it will be noted that l have illustrated aplunger 35 dried to the diaphragm 11, as by any suitable means 36, and'moving through a suitable cylinder formed by coperating bored out portions 37 and 38 in parts 39 and Ll0 of the casing casting 4l. @i these members, it Will be noted t at the member Ll() is disposed above the member 39 and surrounded by the lubricant in the reservoir l2 so that when the piston 35 moves downward with the diaphragm, some oi the lubricant will tionv in above the piston into the cylinder "tl, and upon the upvfard stroke of the piston 35, be forced upward through a passage 43 and a check valve, herein shown in the form of a ball All carried in a suitable passage lo and confined therein by a retainer e6, into a reservoir il?, corresponding to the reservoir 25 above described and likewise provided with a notched side lill. It will be obvious that as wear occurs in operation, the lit the plunger 35 will become somewhat loose in its bore 87. Were the chamber i9 to be un arovided with a vent, leakage about plunger would ultimately ll it and prevent operation of the diaphragm.` I accordingly connect chamber l5) with reservoir 4t2 by a relatively large port 50 which permits the diaphragm to operate, chamber 49 being alivays full and oil surging freely baclr and forth through port 50 as the diaphragm moves. Inasmuch as the remainder of the mechanism including the needle valve, the sight glass, the checlr valve 3l, etc., are the same as that described above in connection u with the construction shown in Fig. 3, it

seems unnecessary to repeat the description thereof.

In the i'orm of my invention shown Fig. 6, it will be noted that I have provided a valve 5l preferably having an upstanding teni 52, and normally held in closed `posiion on a suitable preferably removable ing-like seat 5S, by a spring ef seated in a recess 3, which preferably forms a continuation oi' reduced cross section of a recess 56 in `which the valve seat 53 iscarried. In this construction, it Will be noted that as the diaphragm l1 drops on a drop' in pressure, theV lubricant Will be Withdrawn 'from a reservoir 5T through a port 58, controlled by a ball valve 58, and ivhen the diaphragm is next raised by an increase oi pressure, will be iforced ip to open the valve 5l against the pressure of its spring, the valve 5S being now closed, so that the lubricant will be i'orced up through a reduced passage 59 and a check valve, herein shown inthe term oi' a ball 60 limited in its movement by a stop 6l, Vand into an upper reservoir corresponding to the reservoir 25 above described. In this construction, it will also be noted that I have'also provided a tube or other connection 63 having one end extending` through the diaphragm and into communication With the pipe 8, While its other end preferably extends above the top oic the reservoir 62, as shown. By the provision oi this last mentioned connection, it Will be noted that the pressure acting on the upper surface oi' the lubricant in the reservoir 62 always drags behind that acting on the under surface or t ie diaphragm ll in such a mann as to produce very quickly the desired diria rence in pressure. It vfill be obvious that the relatively long and small-bored tube 63 may advantageously be used on the other forms of my invention.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modification of the piston construction shown in Fig. 5. In this ligure, it Will be noted that the piston 35 is shown to be suitably fixed at 63n to a plate 64' resting on the diaphragm 1l and normally held against the latter by a coiled soring 65 extending around the portion 39 el the casing casting., In Fig. 8, I have also illustrated a modied form oi the diaphragm pump shown in F ig. 8, illustrating in this construction a coiled spring 66 dis` posed around the outlet 19 in a suitable groove 67 formed in the bottom of the casing kmember 13, and having its opposite ends resting upon the bottom of the groove and the surface of the diaphragm ll. Obviously, in both of these constructions, the springs Will act to assist the diaphragm to return to its normal position, and such a spring or other equivalent means may, if desired, be appliedto use with a. device embodying any form of my invention.

It Will be obvious that the utility of my invention is not confined to single stage compressors, but that it may be used on any stage of multi-stage compressors.

By placing the lubrieator near the center line of the cylinder, I obtain several material advantages. As is evident from the drawing, I use the one lubricator to lubricate the cylinder on both sides of the piston, thus saving 50 per cent. in cost of installation. Further, the rate of injection of the lubricant into the cylinder is independent of piston speed, and the sudden change in pressure from several pounds above atmospheric pressure to a partial vacuum, will insure a flovv of oil when otherwise there would not be a flow because the pressure in the end oi the cylinder drops slowly when the pressure generated is loiv or the piston is not reciprocate-d rapidly.

While I have in this application, specifically described several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it is to be understood that the 'invention may be still further modiiied and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit, it being my intention to include all such modiiications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, and lubricant feeding means alterated through acomplete cycle during each single stroke of said piston.

5. In Combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, and a single,-.cylinder-pressure-op erated lubricant feeding means operated to dispense lubricant to vsaid cylinder atA eachV stroke of said piston.

6.- In combinatioma cylinder, a piston therein, and lubricant feeding means com*V prising a pump operated through a complete cycle during each single stroke of said piston. Y Y s .Y 7. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, and a single lubricant feeding means operated by the pressures on opposite sides of the piston. A

8. In combination, a cylinder, a'piston therein, vand lubricant' feeding means alternately actuated by the changes of. pressure in the cylinder during .a single stroke oi said piston. Y

.9, In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, Yand diaphragm actuated llubricantfteeding means'lactuated by the variations in pressure developed during a single stroke of said piston. Y.

I 10. In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, and lubricant supplying means connected Vto `said Acylinder substantially midivaybetvveen its ends and actuated by thevarying pressures during each single stroke in said cylinder. y 11. In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, andlub'ricant supplying means connected to said cylinder remote from its ends and actuated by the varying Ypressures during a single stroke` in said cylinder. Y

12. In a lubricating.device ,pa cylinder, a piston movable therein, and lubricant supplying meansincluding a pressure actuated lubricant pump and a single connection be'- Vtvveen the same and a point adjacent the center line of said' cylinder. y

13.'V In a lubricating-device, a cylinder, a' piston therein, and pressure actuated lubricant supplying means including a single al- 'alternately effective pressure l supply and lubricant discharge member connected adjacent the center line of said cylinder.

16. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, and means oper atively connected to said cylinder ata point adjacent its center line for pumping lubricant by the variations in pressure in said cylinder as said piston moves back and forth including a diaphragm exposed at one side `to the pressure in said cylinder.

17. In combination1 a cylinder, a piston, and a lubricating device therefor compris# ving means for pumping lubricant by the variations in pressure in said cylinder during a stroke of said piston and including a diaphragm exposed at one side to the pressure in said cylinder.Y

18. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, and means operatively connected to said cylinder at a point a jacent its center line Jfor pumping lubrizant by the variations in pressure in said cylindei.' as said piston moves back and forth and including a diaphragm exposed at one side to the pressure in said cylinder and a source of lubricant supply communicable with the opposite side of said diaphragm.

19. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, source of lubri cant supply, a supplemental reservoir coinmunicating with said cylinder, and means actuated by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from .said source of supply, to said supplemental reservoir.

20. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston therein, a reservoir constitutingl a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir communicating with said cylinder, means forV subjecting one ofsaid reservoirs to cylinder pressure, and means actuated by the variations in pressure insaid cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir.

21. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston therein, la reservoir constituting a sourcejof lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir communicating with said cylinder, means for subjecting each of said reservoirs to cylinder pressure, and means actuated by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir.

22. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder', a piston therein, a reservoir constituting a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir communicating with said cylinder, an elongated connection between said cylinder and the surfaces of said reservoirs, and means actuated by the variations in pressure in said cylinder' for delivering lubricantl from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir.

23. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source'of lubricant supply under fluid pressure, a supplemental reservoir, lubricant pumping means actuated by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir, and means for maintaining a predetermined level in said supplemental reservoir.

ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir, and lubricant pumping means, actuated by the pressure variations in said cylinder during` each single stroke of said piston, for delivering lubricant to said supplemental reservoir.

25. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, supplemental reservoir having an outlet, means actuated by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir, and connections between said supplemental reservoir and its outlet including a checl; valve.

26. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir communicating with said cylinder, lubricant pumping means controlled by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir, and means for maintaining the pressure in said supplemental reservoir different from that in said cylinder.l

27. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir having an outlet communicable with said cylinder, lubricant pumping means controlled by the variations in pressure in said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir, and a supplemental fluid pressure connection between said supplemental reservoir and said cylinder.

28. ln a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir, lubricant pumping means responsive to the variations in pressure in said cylinder for automatically pumping lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir, and means for maintaining a predetermined flow of lubricant 'from said supplemental reservoir to said cylinder at intermittent periods.

ln a lubricator, a lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm, means including a single supply passage whereby upon i'novcment of said diaphr gm lubri it is pumped out of said reservoir, a supp dmental reservoir receiving the pumped lubricant, means for maintainpredetei "ine-l level in said suppleme reserroi and means for feeding the lubricant by avity from said supplemental reservoir to d supply passage.

50. ln a lubricator, a lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm haring one side thereof comnninicatir f with the l ibricant in said reseryeir, a vvalve controlling the flow of lubricant thereto from said reservoir and conf lied by the movement of said diaphragm, lubricant pumping means including a cooperating oppositely acting valve likewise controlled by the movement ofy said diaphragm, and single means for supplying fluid for actuating said diaphragm and conducti g away the lubricant.

3l. l-n a lubricator, lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm hai-fing one side thereof communicating u ricant in said reservoir, a valve controll diaphragm when. the latter is moved in one direction, lubricant pumping` means includi coperating oppositely acting valve s by said diaphragm when the latter `.ed in the opposite direction, and a icans for supplying fluid for actuatsaid diaphragm and for subsequently conducting away the lubricant.

32. In a lubricator, a lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm, a valve arresting the flow of lubricant from said reservoir to one side said diaphragm when said diaphragm is moved in one direction, coperating lubricant supplying means, means leading to the opposite side of said diaphragm and including a coperatino valve opened when the diaphragm is so moved, and means for actuating said diaphragm.

33. In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, and a lubricator comprising a lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm, a valve arresting the flow of lubricant thereto from said reservoir when said diaphragm is moved in one direction, cooperating lubricant supplying means, means including a coperating valve opened when the diaphragm is so moved, and alternately effective pressure and lubricant, connections between said cylinder and said diaphragm.

34;. In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir, means controlled by the variations in pressure in said g n 1 i." t 1e how oi lubricant thereto from said reservoir opened by said cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source oi supply to said supplemental reservoir, means for maintaining a predetermined level in said supplemental reservoir, and outlet connections tor said supplemental reservoir, including a valve responsive to variations in pressure in said cylinder.

` In combination, a'cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply,

a supplemental reservoir, means including a connection to said cylinder responsive-to the variations in pressure in said cylinder for automatically pumping lubricant from said source of .supply to said supplemental reservoir, means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of lubricant in said supplemental reservoir, and gravity Jfeed connections between said supplemental reservoir and the f onnections to-said cylinder.

In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, means for utilizing the variations in pressure in said cylinder as said piston moves bac-k and 'lortli to pump lubricant including a diaphragm exposed at one side to the pressure in said cylinder, a

source of lubricant supply communicatingA vWith the opposite side oi said diaphragm, means Jfor maintaining` a Vpredetermined quantity of lubricant pumped by said diaphragm separate from said source of lubri- .ant supply, and means for supplying the same to the first mentioned side oi said dia-v pliragm.

` 37. In combination, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir, means includ- -Y ing a connection to said cylinder responsive and a check valve in said last mentioned connections.` i

38. In combination, a cylinder, a piston Y movable therein, and a lubricator comprising a lubricant reservoir, a diaphragm having one side thereof exposed 'to the'lubricant in said reservoir, a cheek valve limiting the `llow of lubricant from said reservoir when the diaphragm is moved in one direction, means including a cooperating clieelr valve opened by said lubricants/'lien the diaphragm Vis so moved, connections betweenthecenterline of said cylinder and the opposite side ofsaid diaphragm, and means whereby the lubricant pumped by said diaphragm is delivered to said lastmentio'ncd connections.

39. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, and lubricant feeding means operated by pressure variations Within the cylinder, wlioserrate oiidiscliarge into said cylineei' is independent oi' piston speech-said means having but one port opening into the cylinder. f i

-'-l0. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a

pistontlierein, and pressure actuated lubricant supply means including a single alternately effective pressure supply and lubricant discharge member Whose rate of discharge into said cylinder is independent of piston speed.

4l. In a lubricating device, a cylinder, a piston therein, a reservoir constituting a source of lubricant supply, a supplemental reservoir communicable .vitli said cylinder,

.an attenuated connection between said cylinder and tlie surfaces of said reservoirs, and means actuated by the variations in pressure insaid cylinder for delivering lubricant from said source of supply to said supplemental reservoir.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature.

` i CHARLES IN. WYMAN.

It is hereby certiiied that in Letters Patent No. 1,348,769, granted August 3,

1920, upon the application of Charles W. Wyman, of Claremont, New Hampshire,

for an improvement in Lubricating Devices, 4errors appear in the printed speciieation requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 43, claim 9, for the article a read each; page 5, line 123, claim 33, strike out the comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of September, A. ll, 1920.

M. H. ooULSToN,

Acting Commissioner QfPatems.

[SEAL] 

